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heed； for he knelt by Beren； seeing that he was sorely hurt。
Huan in that hour slew Carcharoth； but there in the woven woods of Doriath his own doom long spoken was
fulfilled； and he was wounded mortally； and the venom of Morgoth entered into him。 Then he came； and falling beside
Beren spoke for the third time with words； and he bade Beren farewell before he died。 Beren spoke not； but laid his hand
upon the head of the hound； and so they parted。
Mablung and Beleg came hastening to the King's aid； but when they looked upon what was done they cast aside
their spears and wept。 Then Mablung took a knife and ripped up the belly of the Wolf； and within he was well nigh all
consumed as with a fire； but the hand of Beren that held the jewel was yet incorrupt。 But when Mablung reached forth to
touch it； the hand was no more； and the Silmaril lay there unveiled； and the light of it filled the shadows of the forest all
about hem。 Then quickly and in fear Mablung took it and set it in Beren's living hand； and Beren was aroused by the
touch of the Silmaril； and held it aloft； and bade Thingol receive it。 'Now is the Quest achieved；' he said； 'and my doom
full…wrought'； and he spoke no more。
They bore back Beren Camlost son of Barahir upon a bier of branches with Huan the wolfhound at his side； and
night fell ere they returned to Menegroth。 At the feet of Hírilorn the great beech Lúthien met them walking slow； and
some bore torches beside the bier。 There she set her arms about Beren； and kissed him bidding him await her beyond the
Western Sea； and he looked upon her eyes ere the spirit left him。 But the starlight was quenched and darkness had fallen
even upon Lúthien Tinúviel。 Thus ended the Quest of the Silmaril； but the Lay of Leithian； Release form Bondage does
not end。
For the spirit of Beren at her bidding tarried in the halls of Mandos； unwilling to leave the world； until Lúthien
came to say her last farewell upon the dim shores of the Outer Sea； whence Men that die set out never to return。 But the
spirit of Lúthien fell down into darkness； and at the last it fled； and her body lay like a flower that is suddenly cut off and
lies for a while unwithered on the grass。
Then a winter； as it were the hoar age of mortal Men； fell upon Thingol。 But Lúthien came to the halls of
Mandos； where are the appointed places of the Eldali？； beyond the mansions of the West upon the confines of the world。
There those that wait sit in the shadow of their thought。 But her beauty was more than their beauty； and her sorrow
deeper than their sorrows； and she knelt before Mandos and sang to him。
The song of Lúthien before Mandos was the song most fair that ever in words was woven； and the song most
sorrowful that ever the world shall ever hear。 Unchanged； imperishable； it is sung still in Valinor beyond the hearing of
the world； and the listening the Valar grieved。 For Lúthien wove two themes of words； of the sorrow of the Eldar and the
grief of Men； of the Two Kindreds that were made by Ilúvatar to dwell in Arda； the Kingdom of Earth amid the
innumerable stars。 And as she knelt before him her tears fell upon his feet like rain upon stones； and Mandos was moved
to pity； who never before was so moved； nor has been since。
Therefore he summoned Beren； and even as Lúthien had spoken in the hour of his death they met again beyond
the Western Sea。 But Mandos had no power to withhold the spirits of Men that were dead within the confines of the
world； after their time of waiting； nor could he change the fates of the Children of Ilúvatar。 He went therefore to Manw？；
Lord of the Valar； who governed the world under the hand of Ilúvatar； and Manw？ sought counsel in his inmost thought；
where the will of Ilúvatar was revealed。
These were the choices that he gave to Lúthien。 Because of her labours and her sorrow； she should be released
from Mandos； and go to Valimar； there to dwell until the world's end among the Valar； forgetting all griefs that her life
had known。 Thither Beren could not e。 For it was not permitted to the Valar to withhold Death from him； which is
the gift of Ilúvatar to Men。 But the other choice was this： that she might return to Middle…earth； and take with her Beren；
there to dwell again； but without certitude of life or joy。 Then she would bee mortal； land subject to a second death；
even as he； and ere long she would leave the world for ever； and her beauty bee only a memory in song。
This doom she chose； forsaking the Blessed Realm； and putting aside all claim to kinship with those that dwell
there； that thus whatever grief might lie in wait； the fates of Beren and Lúthien might be joined； and their paths lead
together beyond the confines of the world。 So it was that alone of the Eldali？ she has died indeed； and left the world long
ago。 Yet in her choice the Two Kindreds have been joined； and she is the forerunner of many in whom the Eldar see yet；
thought all the world is changed； the likeness of Lúthien the beloved； whom they have lost。
Chapter 20
Of the Fifth Battle： Nirnaeth
Arnoediad
It is said that Beren and Lúthien returned to the northern lands of Middle…earth； and dwelt together for a time as living
man and woman； and they took up again their mortal form in Doriath。 Those that saw them were both glad and fearful；
and Lúthien went to Menegroth and healed the winter of Thingol with the touch of her hand。 But Melian looked in her
eyes and read the doom that was written there； and turned away； for she knew that a parting beyond the end of the world
had e between them； and no grief of loss has been heavier than the grief of Melian the Maia in that hour。 Then Beren
and Lúthien went forth alone； fearing neither thirst nor hunger； and they passed beyond the River Gelion into Ossiriand；
and dwelt there in Tol Galen the green isle； in the midst of Adurant； until all tidings of them ceased。 The Eldar
afterwards called that country Dor Firn…i…Guinar； the Land of the Dead that Live； and there was born Dior Aranel the
beautiful； who was after known as Dior Eluchíl； which is Thingol's Heir。 No mortal man spoke ever again with Beren
son of Barahir； and none saw Beren or Lúthien leave the world； or marked where at last their bodies lay。
In those days Maedhros son of F？anor lifted up his heart； perceiving that Morgoth was not unassailable； for the
deeds of Beren and Lúthien were sung in many songs throughout Beleriand。 Yet Morgoth would destroy them all； one by
one； if they could not again unite； and make new league and mon council； and he began those counsels for the
raising of the fortunes of the Eldar that are called the Union of Maedhros。
Yet the oath of F？anor and the evil deeds that it had wrought did injury to the design of Maedhros； and he had
less aid than should have been。 Orodreth would not march forth at the word of any son of F？anor； because of the deeds
of Celegorm and Curufin； and the Elves of Nargothrond trusted still to defend their hidden stronghold by secrecy and
stealth。 Thence came only a small pany； following Gwindor son of Guilin； a very valiant prince； and against the will
of Orodreth he went to the northern war； because he grieved for the loss of Gelmir his brother in the Dagor Bragollach。
They took the badge of the house of Fingolfin； and marched beneath the banners of Fingon； and they came never back；
save one。
From Doriath came little help。 For Maedhros and his brothers； being constrained by their oath； had before sent to
Thingol and reminded him with haughty words of their claim； summoning him to yield the Silmaril； or bee their
enemy。 Melian counselled him to surrender it； but the words of the sons of F？anor were proud and threatening； and
Thingol was filled with anger； thinking of the anguish of Lúthien and the blood of Beren whereby the jewel had been
won； despite the malice of Celegorm and Curufin。 And every day that he looked upon the Silmaril the more he desired to
keep it for ever； for such was its power。 Therefore he sent back the messengers with scornful words。 Maedhros made no
answ